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///M3 Forum The BMW E46 ///M3 is the M version E46 and puts out an amazing 333 HP and 262 lb-ft of torque at stock specs! There are an amazing amount of modifications for both the coupe and convertible models so read up and get started modifying your cars today!

first off Hello from Australia im sorry if this is posted in the wrong section or if its been asked before. its a big fkn forum!

anyway

im currently selling my nissan skyline r34 gt-t and looking at upgrading to something European/German. topping my list are the e46 m3 with an SMG transmission or a Audi B6 S4 with the 6 speed manual. i'm currently leaning more towards the M3.

i've been reading a fair bit of negative feedback about the SMG which is a shame coz i'd prefer it over the manual.

my question is, how reliable is the M3/SMG if:

1. is used mostly as a weekender - so about 350 Kilometers per week which consists of urban/highways/freeways and a spirited mountain run once every week or fortnight

2. is serviced every 5000 kilometers or less with the appropriate oils

3. will never be tracked or abused

i'll be doing all the maintenance work myself. i dont trust anyone with my cars.

SMG is less reliable than 6 speed. Do a search of the forums for stories of what and how many SMG owners have had issues. If reliability is your priority - SMG has had increasing issues over the years. Yes - the accounts you have read are real. Look at the detailed maintenance records of any car you consider buying. If it isn't on paper - it never happened. Look at the mileage when the important 1,200 mile fluid service was done. That should no more than +- 200 miles. More than that is an indicator how the car was broken in (BMW had an engine break-in procedure).

Alan - i'll be making sure to do a proper inspection on the whole car before buying. im not one to skip on little details/imperfections specially when im about to hand over 40-50 grand (australian)

i know it will never be as reliable as my nissan but then again its on a completely different league. look after it and it'll look after you, is this not the case with the SMG? i mean things dont just break for no reason...do they

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuksul08

why would you prefer the SMG over the 6MT?

ive always had a thing for sequentials/clutchless manuals. it just suits my driving style better and im bored of manual.

It will deffinatly be as reliable as your Nissan, my /// M is the
Most reliable car I have ever owned. Don't get smg, auto mode is like driving with someone that can't shift and the pump can fail making it less reliable. The e46 m3 is hands down the most fun, enjoyable car I have driven, some are ten years old and hold their own against more modern rides, it's truly timeless. Don't get an Audi, won't satisfy you. GL hope you join the game.

Don't listen to any of the crap about SMG, especially from the yanks. If you want it go for it. Most of the nonsense written about the unreliability of SMG is as a direct result of ignorance and incompetance. Most SMG faults either aren't- ie a car problem is presented as an SMG problem out of ignorance, or the actual fault bears no resemblance to the diagnosis, through incompetent diagnosis.

Just be aware that it'll probably take a few hours of practice to begin to learn how to drive the SMG smoothly, and you'll find you'll enjoy the process of learning even more as you learn more about it.

Don't listen to any of the crap about SMG, especially from the yanks. If you want it go for it. Most of the nonsense written about the unreliability of SMG is as a direct result of ignorance and incompetance. Most SMG faults either aren't- ie a car problem is presented as an SMG problem out of ignorance, or the actual fault bears no resemblance to the diagnosis, through incompetent diagnosis.

Just be aware that it'll probably take a few hours of practice to begin to learn how to drive the SMG smoothly, and you'll find you'll enjoy the process of learning even more as you learn more about it.

Ditto, all I can say is it's one more bill IF it fails, not saying it will but if it does that's a hefty bill to swallow. I have driven smg many times and it's a cool feature but I'll stick to a third petal that I control. Plus auto mode is horrid, so why not just get a manual if the reason you want smg is the option of auto but auto mode sucks. I was dead set on smg until I used one for a week. I wanted to have a car that my girl could use if absolutely needed, instead had fun teaching my girl to master manual, and now she wants her next car to be stick and begs me to drive the ///M. You see many ///M owners selling their smg for 6MT not the opposite. GL sir and get what you desire, just wanted to throw in my 0.02 cents, the majority would agree, no matter what you choose, you'll have a blast.

Don't listen to any of the crap about SMG, especially from the yanks. If you want it go for it. Most of the nonsense written about the unreliability of SMG is as a direct result of ignorance and incompetance. Most SMG faults either aren't- ie a car problem is presented as an SMG problem out of ignorance, or the actual fault bears no resemblance to the diagnosis, through incompetent diagnosis.

Just be aware that it'll probably take a few hours of practice to begin to learn how to drive the SMG smoothly, and you'll find you'll enjoy the process of learning even more as you learn more about it.

Don't listen to any of the crap about SMG, especially from the yanks. If you want it go for it. Most of the nonsense written about the unreliability of SMG is as a direct result of ignorance and incompetance. Most SMG faults either aren't- ie a car problem is presented as an SMG problem out of ignorance, or the actual fault bears no resemblance to the diagnosis, through incompetent diagnosis.

Just be aware that it'll probably take a few hours of practice to begin to learn how to drive the SMG smoothly, and you'll find you'll enjoy the process of learning even more as you learn more about it.

Don't listen to any of the crap about SMG, especially from the yanks. If you want it go for it. Most of the nonsense written about the unreliability of SMG is as a direct result of ignorance and incompetance. Most SMG faults either aren't- ie a car problem is presented as an SMG problem out of ignorance, or the actual fault bears no resemblance to the diagnosis, through incompetent diagnosis.

Just be aware that it'll probably take a few hours of practice to begin to learn how to drive the SMG smoothly, and you'll find you'll enjoy the process of learning even more as you learn more about it.

Go for it, you'll love it.

Cheers
JM

...incompetEnce, make sure you know how to spell the word before its use, especially this one

Don't listen to any of the crap about SMG, especially from the yanks. If you want it go for it. Most of the nonsense written about the unreliability of SMG is as a direct result of ignorance and incompetance. Most SMG faults either aren't- ie a car problem is presented as an SMG problem out of ignorance, or the actual fault bears no resemblance to the diagnosis, through incompetent diagnosis.

Just be aware that it'll probably take a few hours of practice to begin to learn how to drive the SMG smoothly, and you'll find you'll enjoy the process of learning even more as you learn more about it.

Go for it, you'll love it.

Cheers
JM

So all of the SMG pump failures are caused by ignorance and incompetence? Sure Skippy.

Ditto, all I can say is it's one more bill IF it fails, not saying it will but if it does that's a hefty bill to swallow. I have driven smg many times and it's a cool feature but I'll stick to a third petal that I control. Plus auto mode is horrid, so why not just get a manual if the reason you want smg is the option of auto but auto mode sucks. I was dead set on smg until I used one for a week. I wanted to have a car that my girl could use if absolutely needed, instead had fun teaching my girl to master manual, and now she wants her next car to be stick and begs me to drive the ///M. You see many ///M owners selling their smg for 6MT not the opposite. GL sir and get what you desire, just wanted to throw in my 0.02 cents, the majority would agree, no matter what you choose, you'll have a blast.